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[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)]Oliver Martin was a four-star recruit and U.S. Army All-American when he joined the Michigan Wolverines. Five years later, the wide receiver is a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars after frustrating stints with the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers.
[/COLOR][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)]Despite more than enough athleticism to interest NFL teams, Martin could never quite find a fit at the collegiate level. In five seasons, he caught four touchdown passes and never finished a season with more than 200 receiving yards.[/COLOR][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)]Still, Martin raised eyebrows when he posted a 41-inch vertical and 134-inch broad jump at the Nebraska Pro Day.[/COLOR]
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A former four-star wide receiver recruit out of Iowa City (Iowa) West, Martin committed to Michigan in 2017. Two years later, he transferred back home to Iowa.
A year after that, the 2017 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year was on the move again, this time ending up at Nebraska as a walk-on.
While his road has been full of speed bumps and detours, the fifth-year junior seems to have finally found where he belongs in Lincoln based on how well he's settled in over the past 12 months.
"I feel fast, explosive. I'm really confident in my abilities right now," Martin said. "I feel like I can execute the plays that the coaches are calling, whether it's getting up into the zone or getting up against man coverage. I feel really good with where I'm at right now."
Talent and athleticism have never been issues for Martin. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was a Rivals250 prospect who held offers from half of the Big Ten Conference, Auburn, Florida, Oregon, Notre Dame, and several others.
Martin set multiple Iowa high school records, including career receptions (239), receiving yards (3,449), and touchdowns (33). He was also an eight-time state champion swimmer.
After redshirting his first year at Michigan, Martin saw action in 13 games (one start) for the Wolverines in 2018, finishing with 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
He then decided to return to his home state for a fresh start at Iowa, but he only had five receptions for 28 yards and one score in five appearances as a redshirt sophomore in 2019.
Needing another change of scenery, Martin transferred to Nebraska in 2020.
"I just felt it was in my best interest to seek out a different option than the situation I was in (at Iowa)," Martin said.